be careful when traveling in mexico: attempted robbery

groundclown · Since 12 May 2007 135 Posts Hood River Stoked

We all hear crazy stories about traveling in Mexico. The economy here is much worse than this spring and there are lots of crazy things happening as a result. I had been through this city twice before and was not worried about much. I should have found a hotel 2-3 hours earlier. NEVER DRIVE AFTER DARK!!! even if you think you know the area. Lesson learned.

Last night was fucking crazy. I'm just saying; bad thinks can happen when you least expect it. It can happen to anyone.

a friend suggested I pull the story and I agree with his reasons. Just be careful if heading south. I decided to put it back up even though it may make me look bad.
Jonathon

I took this from my journal.

Today, Wednesday November 4th 2009 I was really, really stupid. We left San Carlos much later than planned. I had wanted to get to Culiacan, but changed my goal to Los Mochis. Once in Los Mochis, I decided I had a few hours left in me, so I headed on towards Culiacan. I had no worries as I had been here twice before. I started getting really tired just before Culiacan. I was driving through the edge of town on the quota road when I pulled onto the “lateral” road driving along trying to spot the hotel I had looked up, or any other hotel. After about a mile, just as I spotted one and was pulling over, someone pulled up behind me driving erratically. As they pulled up along side me less than a foot away, I thought what the fuck is this guys problem. When I looked over I was staring into two guns. One looked like a semi-auto 9mm or something, and the other appeared to be a homemade small caliber “zip-gun” if a gun at all. My heart dropped and I shrieked “no” in a voice that I remember must have sounded as if I were crying. At this point I was still slowing down to below 30mph. I came to my senses and floored it, ducking behind my door, honking like crazy, and looking up only to keep under control. After hitting a few topes, Levi woke up. I was then stuck trying to pin him down and drive at the same time. He was laughing hysterically. “Just like on TV” he must have thought. All the while we were still neck and neck with the would-be robbers. They were swerving at me and starting to get ahead of me trying to run me off the road. I would not budge. As we were coming up to a median between the highway and the lateral, and their rear tire was about even with my front I swerved tight to the median smashing into them. This forced them into the metal markers just ahead of the median and onto the other side. I hit them from around 6 inches away and broke off their mirror when they slammed on their brakes, giving my truck about a 1.5 foot long scratch with a small dent. I think the main point of contact must have been my tire. This was at around 70mph. My lane was coming to an end so I had to merge onto the highway ahead of them. (a good thing as there were no more topes)Luckily there old crappy Nissan really sucked as I was able to outrun them as they chased me for about another minute. At this point I had stopped honking and drove at near 100mph for the next 25ish miles before finding a large Pemex with Federales outside. I pulled over and explained what had happened. They escorted me back to the same place, as those were the only two hotels without going to downtown Culiacan. They got me checked in and told me how to get back to where I was going in the morning. Even in a gated hotel with guards, I could hardly sleep. In the morning I was still shaking for about the first two or three hours of my drive towards Mazatlan, paranoid and suspicious of every car on the road. My knife and mace have not left my side when out of the car since.
A couple things I learned. Never drive at night, even if you think you know the area. There are emergency phones on the side of the road every kilometer for a reason. I guess it means you’re in a real bad area.
I can not imagine how I would have felt if something had happened to Levi having put him in that situation. Having fun and making good time is not worth putting your lives at risk. Trying to make good time could have cost us our lives. Fucking stupid!

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3754 Posts PDX-LA Videographer

Damn, that's fuckin' insane! Glad you made it out of there okay! Shocked

Kraemer · Since 24 Apr 2006 1736 Posts Sky Pilot Unicorn Captain

that's just shitty. Now that you're safe and on-guard, your journey should go well.

Tony · Since 28 Aug 2006 940 Posts Portland Opinionated

Hijo de su....ten quidado...Porque uno no sabe...

Shocked

Nak · Thu Nov 05, 09 7:35 pm

Shit. Glad as hell to hear both you and Levi are OK!

groundclown · Since 12 May 2007 135 Posts Hood River Stoked

Bien dicho. Todo está bien en mi hotel esta noche. I was never afraid to camp on the beach before. I think I may be a bit nervous at night for a while. I can't wait to meet up with Casey and Dave in a few more days. Not looking forward to squirting around Mexico city the next two days. There is a new toll road going from Toluca to Puebla that will make things a bit better. After that, it's back to the beaches! I'll feel much better then.

Bettyboarder · Thu Nov 05, 09 8:16 pm

Oh man that sounds f'n scary...I am glad you guys are ok...be safe and keep us posted on your trip.

pdxmonkeyboy · Thu Nov 05, 09 8:40 pm

what happened? I missed the post before you edited it.

Glad you guys are safe and I will say it again. DO NOT CAMP ALONE ON THE BEACH IN BAJA.

You do not want to go through what myself and others have. Its all fine and dandy, until its not.

johnnierhea · Since 07 Aug 2008 34 Posts san diego Â

Wheres the original posting? I live in San Diego and go down there from time to time. I'm curious about what happened. Glad you got out OK!

The minnow · Since 26 Jan 2009 395 Posts argentina Obsessed

this post is not nice, and my spelling sucks,
>>>>>>>>> the reason is i live in argentina, but gru up in santa barbara, and always had the most respect for imagrants,which is total s--t,, people go to north america<USA> because thier country is a big piece of sh-t,why would you leave home, for something better, ? and the USA gives them all they can handle almost no questioned asked as long as you dont , drink & drive,
>>>>>>>> but if you go to thier country they ask you why your thier and if you like the big piece of s-it on your head,and to make your life in thier country like they live in the USA , is very difficult with out a big capital of money,
>>>>>>>>its all dis crimination, in the usa is bullshit, you want to see the truth just leave home,they think its all hollywood and your totaly overflowing with dough which should be thiers,and they will not be prosicuted for thier crimes they are minors usally and dont even spend the night in jail on any offensive even murder!!!!>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>long story short!!!people here in argentina love to think thier special, that the country is an extra large piece of sh-t that all the other countries laid here,
they say its the asshole of the world, < well if you look at a map it does look like an asshole, and two legs???but i will always say if you want to talk shit about shit lets start with mexico!!!!!
>>>>>>>its a lot differant if you have money and pay every dirty hand they put in your face, then your a king ten times over, <they will call you don> boss!!
>>>this is from someone who does everything free, or bartar,and no dough, the black sheperd, a spy, conocedo!! i just want what they got in the good old USA AND ITS NOT THAT WAY!!! IF IT WASNT FOR MY GRAND MOTHER I COULD NEVER LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT THE KITTING MAY NOT BE MEXICO, BUT A HUNDRED TIMES BETTER SMELLING S-IT, LIKE KITES, ISAY PICK YOUR BEST BAD SMELL, THEY ALL GOT SOMETHING THAT SUCKS!!!! IN MEXICO THEY SAY YOU BUY YOUR SECURITY!!! DONT GET ME WRONG IF YOUR<A IMAGRANT> WANT TO HAVE MY BABY I WILL PUT IT< ALL IN> LIKE POKER,>>>>>>>>
...............HOPE no one doesnt get mad!!!!!! just go home, if you do , and see your father & brother!!!go home, go home!!!! Mad

Tony · Since 28 Aug 2006 940 Posts Portland Opinionated

Well said David Peterson....
I truly think everyone needs to spend time in a 3rd world country.

Cool

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

The minnow · Since 26 Jan 2009 395 Posts argentina Obsessed

remeber this is a very long storie:;;
>>>>>>> important life is a balance and for the worst that can happen , thier is something good that makes it all worth the pian of error!!so something good is happening it all depends on who you know!!!!! S.A. wow! if the good is 100peso hotels and cheap beer!!! sounds good!! Wink

pjc · Since 06 Mar 2005 649 Posts Addicted

I respect your decision to pull your story. That said, it might be helpful to others to keep at least some of the details posted. I have driven around the back-of-beyond-baja with little children in tow in the past and will likely do so again. Any info helps build judgment that could be life saving.

Best of luck and hope the rest of your trip works out well.

pdxmonkeyboy · Fri Nov 06, 09 11:11 am

I would love to hear the story as well. I have told my horrific baja story but two other events in Baja may also convince people to not drive at night and stay out of remote locations that are close to cities and towns.

One christmas break we were driving to Catavina to do some sport climbing in the sun. We got a late start and ended up driving at night. I don't exactly know where we were at but we were about 20 minutes outside of a small town. We could see these lights on the highway. As we got closer you could see they were burning barrels in the middle of the road. MY buddy started screaming turn around turn around!! As soon as we slowed down headlights came on towards us. I turned the jeep around and he said..go off road! So we ended up driving through the desert for about 20 minutes, hiding out, and then driving back to the highway with no lights and sleeping in the car parked at a Pemex.

Take away lesson: Federales generally don't work at night, if there is a road block, its a "I'm going to steal all your shit road block"

A week later we are camping at Catavina and except for the occasional car, we see nobody. We are hanging out by the fire one night and we can hear people smashing bottles and yelling shit in spanish. Hmmm, probably just drunk. About an hour later we start hearing more yelling and gun shots. Hmmmm. drunk people with guns and there are two white guys with a nice jeep and about 3K in climbing gear.... Got in the jeep and once again, spent the night in the Pemex hotel.

Lesson I SHOULD HAVE LEARNED.. Camping in the middle of nowhere by yourself is fun and adventurous, but can be hazardous to your health.

SalmonSlayer · Since 27 Nov 2005 648 Posts Addicted **CGKA Member**

If you removed your post because you are still south of the border, I hope you re-post when you return.

It was a good story and a lesson for others.

Also, it is a great story to tell over beers.

I am glad you and your son are safe.

I drove to Guadalajara in '79 when I was 18 with a friend. good times and no guns except once. It was the Federales.

I went to SDSU and spent plenty of time in Baja. A few bribes to policemen was about it for problems.

Mexico has clearly changed for the worse.

Tony · Since 28 Aug 2006 940 Posts Portland Opinionated